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PPF Calculator

See how a Public Provident Fund account grows over 15 years and beyond, with monthly or April deposits and the tax-free interest it earns.

PPF balance after 15 years

₹39,44,599

₹39.45 Lakh, all of it tax-free

Total deposited

₹22.5 Lakh

Interest earned

₹16.95 Lakh

Interest as share of balance

43%

Rate used

7.1%

How the balance builds

Cumulative deposits and the interest earned on them, year by year.

DepositedInterestYears on the bottom axis

The PPF rate changes every quarter and this calculator holds it constant, so the real balance will differ. Deposits are assumed to be made by the 5th of the month. Tax treatment described here is for the old regime and can change. Not financial or tax advice.

How to use this PPF calculator

Enter how much you will put into PPF in a year, up to ₹1.5 lakh.
Choose whether you deposit monthly or as one deposit at the start of the year.
Check the interest rate and set the number of years. Fifteen is the standard tenure.
Read the maturity value, the interest earned and how the balance builds each year.

A worked example

Depositing the maximum ₹1,50,000 in April every year for 15 years at 7.1% puts in ₹22,50,000 and grows to ₹40,68,209, so ₹18,18,209 of the total is tax-free interest. Spreading the same amount as ₹12,500 a month gives ₹39,44,599, about ₹1.2 lakh less, because the later deposits earn interest for fewer months. Extending to 25 years with the April deposit habit reaches about ₹1.03 crore.

Why the timing of the deposit matters

PPF interest is calculated month by month, but it is credited only once a year, so the interest itself compounds annually. The month-by-month calculation is why an early-in-the-year deposit earns more: a lump sum by 5 April earns interest for all 12 months, while a deposit made in March earns for one. If you can afford the full amount at the start of the year, that is the better pattern; if you save from a monthly salary, depositing by the 5th of each month keeps every deposit earning from that month.

The rules that matter

Minimum ₹500 and maximum ₹1.5 lakh in a financial year.
The account matures after 15 financial years and can be extended in 5-year blocks.
Interest is set by the government each quarter, and deposits, interest and maturity have EEE tax status under the old regime.
Partial withdrawal is allowed from the 7th financial year, and a loan is possible in the early years, subject to conditions.
One person can hold one account in their own name, so a PPF account for a child is opened by a guardian and counts towards the guardian's limit.

See also the FD and RD calculator for bank deposits and the SIP calculator for market-linked growth.

Limits of this calculator

The rate is held constant for the whole period, though the real rate is reset every quarter. It ignores the exact dates deposits are made and assumes each is in by the 5th of its month. It does not model partial withdrawals or loans. Treat the result as an estimate and check your passbook for the actual balance.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Interest is worked out every month on the lowest balance between the 5th and the end of the month, and added to your account once a year on 31 March. A deposit made by the 5th of the month therefore earns interest for that whole month. Because of this, depositing the full amount in April earns more than spreading it over the year.

The government notifies the PPF rate every quarter. The calculator starts at 7.1%, a rate that has applied for several years, but you should check the latest notified rate and change the figure if it has moved. A rate change affects the balance from the date it takes effect.

From ₹500 to ₹1.5 lakh in a financial year, in one or many deposits (up to 12 in a year). Deposits above ₹1.5 lakh earn no interest and are not eligible for a deduction. The calculator caps the yearly amount at ₹1.5 lakh.

PPF has EEE status: the deposits qualify for a deduction under Section 80C (within the ₹1.5 lakh limit, old regime only), the interest is tax-free and so is the maturity amount. Under the new tax regime you cannot claim the deduction, but the interest and maturity remain tax-free.

The account matures after 15 financial years. Partial withdrawals are allowed from the 7th financial year, up to a limit, and loans are available in the early years, both under conditions set by the scheme. Check the current rules with your bank or post office.

You can close the account, or extend it in blocks of 5 years, with or without further deposits. Use the years box to see how the balance grows if you extend: the calculator accepts up to 50 years.